Now that a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) is complete, the River Valley Regional Intermodal Facilities Authority has been evaluating the study's findings and preparing for a public hearing scheduled for April 18.

Luke Eggering, EIS project manager with Parsons, presented handout summaries that will be available during the public hearing. He summarized the study's findings Tuesday during the authority's regular meeting, answering members' questions.

The authority has been waiting on the draft for about 18 months and has had to pay more than $400,000 to cover the costs of the study. Without the EIS, the Intermodal project has been stalled.

The study considers effects of building an intermodal facility off State Highway 247. The facilities would include a slackwater harbor and provide a place for transferring freight to different transportation, such as from a barge to a train.

The authority hopes to develop the 800-acre tract of land, drawing shipping and industry jobs to the Arkansas River Valley.

Eggering said the study looked at the worse-case scenario and the effect from every side. The study takes into account flood zones, air quality, impact of construction of the land and wetlands, impact to Dardanelle; and the cultural, social and economical impacts the facility may have for the six county area.

Two alternatives stood out to the authority, the facility could either be constructed in the Russellville Bottoms or North Dardanelle. The study looked at each alternative.

The comment period on the EIS ends May 3. Eggering said under best-case scenario, the final EIS would come out in July or August.

Eggering advised the authority to wait and choose which alternative to proceed with during the authority's May meeting.

He said the authority did not have to choose the most environmentally-friendly option, they were only required to fully disclose the chosen alternative.

Copies of the draft EIS are available at the Pope County Library and the Russellville Chamber of Commerce.

In other business

The river channel may need to be deepened to 15 feet to accommodate recommendations, Sid Brain, chairman, said.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has started designing the Intermodal project.

The authority will be looking to acquire land probably in January, members said.